It shocked all the reasonable citizens of the country when news was broadcast on one of the nation's mainstream media platforms, @Channe...
It shocked all the reasonable citizens of the country when news was broadcast on one of the nation's mainstream media platforms, @Channels Television, about the life imprisonment of three soldiers for selling arms to terrorists. This was seen as a troubling development and an outright injustice against the military personnel involved.
While these arrests may be legitimate, critics argue that they sometimes serve as public relations moves to deflect attention from deeper institutional failures. Nigeria's defence sector has long struggled with corruption and opaque procurement practices. When scandals emerge, such as the discovery of missing funds or faulty equipment, lower-ranking personnel often bear the brunt of disciplinary actions, while higher-level officials usually evade accountability.
Many believe that laws and orders cannot be enforced only on impoverished, ordinary citizens without political immunity and lower-ranked security personnel, while the wealthy, politicians, and higher-ranking officers commit far greater offences. Many of these high and mighty are guilty of court-martial crimes, fraudulent activities, drug abuse, human rights violations, and other serious crimes that warrant life sentences or even the death penalty. Yet, these individuals escape punishment and continue to enjoy their lives with complete impunity.
The government has, on several occasions, reintegrated hundreds of thousands of terrorists into the military under the guise that they have repented. As a result, these individuals have faced no consequences for the massacres, kidnappings, destruction, and damage they have caused to citizens, security forces, and national properties. Just a week ago, the same government sent official delegates to negotiate with a terrorist in Katsina State, where the condemned soldiers are serving.
Only a hypocritical and ineffective government would negotiate with terrorists, agreeing to all their terms and conditions, then turn around and persecute its military personnel for selling arms to those same terrorists. It's absurd to kill your own soldiers and allow the chief enemy to escape in such a dramatic fashion. This is what we have come to expect from a country like Nigeria, which was created by British colonialism.
written by
Mazi Udodi
For Imo State Media Team
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